Rail-sanding device and cleaner therefor



y 1930. R. R. BIRCHFIELD 3,

RAIL SANDING DEVICE AND CLEANER THEREFOR ATTORNEY May 13, 1930. R. R.BIRCHFIELD 1,753,821

RAIL SANDING DEVICE AND CLEANER THEREFOR FileEi Jui 6, 1929 aSheets-Sheet 2 ZZZZBZ'Iekfz'eZMNTOR A'ITORNEY y 1930. R. R. BlRHFlELD1,758,821

RAIL SANDING DEVICE; AND CLEANER THEREFOR Filed July 6, 1929 3Sheets-Sheet 3 0., z i'ckfl eamvaurora ATTORNEY Patented May 13, 1930UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROY R. BIRGHFIELD, OF HOLLY RIDGE,LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR ONE-HALF TO I. F.

CRYER, F BOSSIER PARISH, LOUISIANA RAIL-SANDING DEVICE AND CLEANERTHEREFOR Application filed July 6, 1929. Serial No. 376,348.

The object of this invention is to provide improved means for sandingrails of railroad tracks, and means for keeping the sand pipes free fromobstruction, due to the packing of the sand or to the other causes.

A further object is to provide air controlled agitating means, for thepurpose indicated.

A further object is to provide a cylinder and a piston therefor, andmeans controlled by the piston for rotating a plurality of agitators,one of which may be located in the duct leading from the sand dome, theothers being positioned in the pipes thru which the sand is distributed.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe novel construction and arrangement of elements disclosed, it beingunderstood that modifications may be made within the scope of the claimswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming part of this application 2 Figure 1 is a view ofthe device in top plan.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section, on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view in end elevation.

A main casting or body is designated 10 and is provided with a chamberin which cylinder 11 is mounted, the casting also being provided withchambers or cut away portions 12 and 13 facilitating the mounting ofcertain elements described below. These chambers 12 and 13 may be closedby cover plates such as 14 and 15.

Within the cylinder 11, I mount a piston 16 provided with packing asshown for instance at 17, the piston having reduced annular portions at18 and 19 permitting of the passage of sand when in registration withthe sand ports, shown at 181819 and 19".

These ports just referred to are in communication with the sand pipes.

A pipe or element 20 is adapted for connection with the said dome, andconnections 21 and 22 threaded into the lower part of the main castingare adapted for connection by means of unions such as 23 with pipes 24and 25.

In each of the pipes last named thru which sand is applied directly tothe rails, 1 provide agitating devices which in the present instance areshown as including chains 26, the latter being connected respectivelywith shafts or stems 27 and 28, and these elements last named carryingpinions such as 29 adapted for rotation by means of a rack bar.

The pinions are rigid with reference to stems 27 and 28, and the rackbar is slidable within cut away portions in the body shown for instanceat 30, the rack being designated 31 and the two rack bars shownconstituting upper and lower elements of a reciprocable frame which ismovable transversely thru the body or casting 10, in view of theoperating means described below.

The piston 16 has connected with opposite ends thereof stems or rodssuch as the elements 40 and 41, and surrounding the latter are springs42 and 43, the outer ends of the springs being held at 44, and adjustingnuts for the stems being provided at 45.

Each end of the cylinder is provided with a head such as that shown at46, these elements being threaded on to the ends of the cylinder, andthe rods 40 and 41 extend thru so the heads and thru the cuffs orelements 46 against which the springs 42 and 43 abut at their innerends.

Relief valves are shown at 4'7 and 48, and air under pressure isintroduced thru pipes 35 49 and 50, so that the piston 16 may be movedin either direction, according to the operation of valves not shown,admitting air for the purpose specified.

In the position of Figure 2 the reduced portion 19 of the plunger,providing a port or passageway, is in registration with ports 19' and19", and sand passes thru pipe 25 to the rail of the track.

An agitating device 53 is carried by stem 53, and the latter supportsrigidly thereon a pinion 54 ada ted for engagement with upper rack 31.ucts 55 and 56 passsing thru the body 10 connect respectively with thecylinder 1/1 and the ports 18" and 19.

What is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a bodyportion, a cylinder mounted therein, a piston Within the cylinder, saidcylinder being provided With ports controlled by the piston, ducts incommunication with the ports, agitating devices within said ducts, andmeans connected with opposite ends of the piston, and movable throughthe body and alongside of the cylinder, for rotating the agitatingdevices upon the operation of the piston.

2. In a device of the class described, arbody portion, a cylindermounted therein and provided With ports, a piston controlling the portsof the cylinder, ducts communicating With said ports, agitating devicesWithin the ducts,a'reciprocable rack, means rigid with the agitatingdevices and controlled by the rack, means for admitting air underpressure to opposite ends of the cylinder, and means connecting the rackwith opposite ends of the piston.

in testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ROY R. BIRGH'FIELD.

